The Pavese Festival was launched in 2001 as an annual festival celebrating the writer in his hometown. During the Pavese Festival key representatives of the Italian music, theatre and culture relate to Cesare Pavese in a unique and intimate dialogue among people, literature, arts and the eternal hills so loved by the writer. The initiative is acknowledged as one of the three main events of the province of Cuneo. 

The 20th edition of the Pavese Festival, celebrating the 70th anniversary of Pavese’s death and of the publication of The Moon and the Bonfires, will take place in Santo Stefano Belbo on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2020. The Festival will open with artist Davide “Boosta” Di Leo – Subsonica co-founder – presenting his latest album Boostology. On Saturday afternoon, Sardinian writer Marcello Fois accompanied by musician Gavino Murgia, will present his interpretation of some of the Dialogues with Leucò, whereas in the evening actor Neri Marcorè will read The Moon and the Bonfires accompanied by musician Domenico Mariorenzi. The Festival will go on with a tribute in music and words by artist Omar Pedrini and close with actor Andrea Bosca performing Anguilla in The Moon and the Bonfires. For the entire month of September, the Church of Saints James and Christopher will host Tina Cosmai’s photo-exhibit dedicated to the Pavesian places, which will be inaugurated at the Festival opening. 

In compliance with the current anti-Covid regulations, all the events will have a limited number of seats available upon online reservation only. Reservations will open from Monday 24 August 2020 through a dedicated link that will be published here. All participants should show up at least one hour in advance to enable the completion of all the security checks required by the anti-Covid regulations. Everyone will have to bring in a signed copy of the anti-Covid self-certification duly filled in (the form will be downloadable from our website once the reservations open). Face masks wearing and interpersonal distancing will be mandatory.